The Tahajjud Prayer (Salaat al-Layl, Namaz-e-Shab) ranks first and foremost in importance among all other optional (Sunnat) prayers. Tahajjud means to abandon sleep so as to pray Salat. The Qur’an refers to it in Surah 17:79 and says, “And (during part) of the night, abandon sleep and keep vigil to pray Salat, in addition to the regular obligatory prayer. Your Rabb (the Sustainer) may (as a reward) elevate you to the position of High Distinction, Glory and Praise.” The Prophet (s.a.w.w.) said, “I will be at “Maqam-e-Mahmuda” on the Day of Resurrection when I will seek forgiveness for the sinners from the Rabb (the Sustainer) who does what He wills.” We, as sinners, would also wish to receive intercession and are forgiven so as to be in the company of the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) on that Fearful Day. But, we need by working hard to attain the required spiritual level to qualify, while we are still living.

The verse quoted above which prescribes Salaat al-Layl has been placed immediately next to the verse (17:78) which prescribes the regular daily obligatory Salat. Therefore, it underscores the great importance of Salatul-Layl. Although optional, Tahajjud is considered “nearest to obligatory (Wajib) prayer.”

While advising Imam ‘Ali (a.s.), the Prophet repeated three times, “’Alayka Bis-Salatul-Layl” which means, “incumbent upon you (O! Ali) is Salat al-Layl.” This Hadith underscores further the importance of Salatul-Layl. Therefore, we should try never to miss it.

MERITS

By praying Salat al-Layl one’s livelihood is increased, one passes easily through “Sakaraat” (great and grueling pain a dying person suffers at the time of death) and finds happiness in “Barzakh” (the Spiritual world where the departed souls stay either in happiness or misery, until the Day of Resurrection).

Imam Jaffar Sadiq (a.s.) quotes Imam Ali (a.s.) as saying that the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) said that a person who prays Salat al-Layl gets the following twenty four kinds of benefits:

Secures Allah’s pleasure.

Makes friendship with Angels.

Is the Sunnat of the Prophets (a.s.)

Provides the means to pursue knowledge.

Constitutes the root of our faith.

Keeps one physically fit.

Drives Shaytan away.

Protects one from enemies.

Serves as a means of acceptance of one’s Duas and good deeds.

Increases one’s livelihood.

Intercedes with the Angel of Death.

Lights up the grave.

Provides comfortable bedding in the grave.

Helps answering with ease the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave.

Gives companionship in the grave.

Provides shelter on the Day of Judgment.

Crowns one on the Day of Reckoning.

Clothes one on the Day of Resurrection.

Provides one with light on the Day of Judgment.

Forms a barrier against the fire of Hell.

Gets Allah’s pardon on the Day of Judgment.

Increases the weight of good deeds on the scale.

Helps one crossing the Bridge of “Siraat” without any difficulty.

Forms the key to the Paradise.

TIME

The time for praying Salat al-Layl is from midnight (midnight is reckoned as the time which is exactly half the time between sunset and the actual dawn) to the time of Adhan for Fajr prayers. However, it can be prayed at anytime after Isha prayers but it is better to pray during the last part of the night near to the time of Fajr prayers. If it is not possible to pray after midnight or before Fajr, then it can be prayed in the morning or any part of the day with the niyyah (intention) of Qadha. It is better to pray with the niyyah of Qadha during the day time than to pray in the early part of the night.

NOTE: According to Ayatullah Al-Sistani Dama-Dhilluhu, the time for Salaat al-Layl is from midnight to the Adhan time for Fajr prayers. However, it is better to pray near the time of Fajr prayers. Anyone who finds it difficult to pray Salaat al-Layl after midnight can pray before midnight.

METHOD

Salaat al-Laylis made up of elevenRak’ats.

The first eight Rak’ats are prayed as normal in pairs of two Rak’ats each with the Niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl.

The next two Rak’ats are prayed with the Niyyah of Salaat al-Shaf’a.

NOTE: Qunuut, recited, normally, in the second Rak’at of every Salaat, is aMustahab (recommended) act in all Salaat, Wajib (obligatory) as well asSunnat (including Nafilah). However, its recitation in Salaat al-Shaf’ais a matter of Ishkal. Nevertheless, it can be recited with the Niyyah of Raja’ al-Matlubiyyah, meaning, to seek Allah’s pleasure (Qurbatan ilal Llah). (Minhaaj al-Salihin – Ayatullah Al-Sistani Dama-Dhilluhu)

The remaining one Rak’at is prayed with the Niyyah of Salaat al-Witr.

In the last one Rak’at, Qunoot is recited before Rukuu and the Salaat is completed as usual with Tashahhud and Salaam. The last one Rak’at is prayed as follows:

Hold Tasbih in the right hand for keeping count of the Dhikr mentioned below to be recited.

Make Niyyah and say Takbiratul Ihram.

Recite: Surah Al-Hamd;

Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad – three times;

Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbil Falaq – once;

Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbin Naas – once.

Note: If one does not know the last two Surahs mentioned above, then it is sufficient to recite Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad, three times.

.

SayTakbirand raise both hands forQunoot.

You may recite any Du’aa. However, it is recommended to recite the following Du’aa.

Laa ilaaha illallaahul Halimul Karim

لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ

Laa ilaaha illallaahul ‘Aliyyul ‘Azim

لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ

Subhaanallaahi Rabbis Samaawaatis Sab’

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ

Wa Rabbil ‘Arzinas Sab’

وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ

Wa Maa Fihinna Wa Maa Baynahunna

وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ

Wa Rabbul ‘Arshil ‘Azim

رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ

Wal Hamdul Lillaahi Rabbil ‘Aalamin

وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and GenerousThere is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great

Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth

And Who is the Sustainer of all the things in them, and between them,

And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)

And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.

Then, while holding the Tasbih in the right hand, raise the left hand and pray for forgiveness of forty [40] or more Mu’mineen/Mu’minaat who are either dead or living in the following manner.

Continuing with the Qunoot, while still raising the left hand, recite the following Istighfar seventy [70] times:

Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh

اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ

I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him

Still continuing further while raising the left hand, recite the following Dua seven [7] times:

Haadhaa Maqaamul ‘Aaidhi Bika Minannaar

هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ

This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire [of Hell]

Continuing yet further while still raising the left hand, recite three hundred [300] times:

Al-‘Afwa

اَلْعَفْوَ

(I ask for) forgiveness

Finally, complete the Salat in the normal way by going to Rukuu’ followed by Sajdah, Tashahhud and Salaam, ending Salaat al-Layl.

As a Ta’kibaat after the Salat, recite

Tasbih of Janabe Fatemah Zahra (a.s.),

34 times Allahu Akbar;

33 times Al-Hamdu Lillah:

33 times Subhanallah,

followed by Sajdah of Shukr.

Next, recite Ayatul Kursi.

Finally, for the second time, perform Sajdah of Shukr.

Conclusion

The blessed month of Ramadhan is at our doorstep. It offers a good opportunity and convenient time to pray Salatul Layl, especially when the time of commencing the fast is favorable. Allah [s.w.t.] gives abundant reward for all our acts of worship during this blessed month, therefore, we need to make special efforts to pray the Salaat and keep it up for the rest of the year to raise our level of spirituality.

Politik

Vänner

Irakiska dödstal

“Our people will not say: ‘Hello, I am from the hasbara department of the Israeli foreign ministry and I want to tell you the following.’ Nor will they necessarily identify themselves as Israelis. They will speak as net-surfers and as citizens, and will write responses that will look personal but will be based on a prepared list of messages that the foreign ministry developed.”

— from the Israeli Jew HASBARA Manual. They should also have said: "neither will we say we are Jews..." because this was given out to Jew College students all over the West.